3 minute read

The chances of class mare Galaxy Star starting in the Perth Cup at Ascot on January 5 hang on the handicapper’s assessment when weights are released on Monday.

The six-year-old is certain to head the weights after adding the G2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) to her record at Ascot on Saturday.

She has been left as the highest rated entry for the Perth Cup (2400m) after last year’s winner Material Man (rated 112) was withdrawn.

Galaxy Star had an official rating of 110 before the Van Heemst Stakes, her 11th win in 15 career starts that have earned more than $1.3 million.

The minimum top weight for the G2 Perth Cup is 59kg, 2kg more than she carried under Saturday’s weight-for-age conditions where she beat Gatting by 1.5 lengths.

Gatting’s official rating is 108.

Galaxy Star, winner of last month’s G1 Railway Stakes (1600m) carrying 53kg, is the sixth winner of the Van Heemst Stakes (formerly the CB Cox Stakes) owned by Bob and Sandra Peters.

She was having her first start over 2100m on Saturday and is untried at the Perth Cup distance of 2400m.

“I think we’ll have to wait and see the weights,” said Bob Peters.

“She won well. Probably not as impressive as she has been but in the end she did win well.

“It was more of a tradesman-like effort.”

Peters will have reservations about starting Galaxy Star under a big weight as he carries bittersweet memories of his former top class mare Delicacy suffering career-ending tendon injuries when she won the 2016 Perth Cup under the topweight of 59kg.

He also has Perfect Jewel and Star Exhibit, third and fifth in the Van Heemst Stakes, entered for the Perth Cup along with his WA Derby winner Action and Tattersall’s Cup winner Mississippi Delta.

Trainer Justin Warwick scratched Material Man from the Van Heemst Stakes because of the severe heat that hit Perth on Saturday.

He said the scratching was not related to the announcement on Friday of a stewards inquiry into a positive blood sample taken from Material Man at Belmont Park trials in November.

Material Man tested positive to flunixin, a therapeutic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Warwick said he had used flunixin to treat Material Man for soreness after a bar shoe was removed.

He has ruled out a Perth Cup start and is planning to set Material man for a Melbourne campaign.

Bob Peters’ Group One winning mare Galaxy Star continues phenomenal run capturing the $400,000 Ted Van Heemst Stakes at Ascot. Winner of the Railway Stakes in November, Galaxy Star is closely related to Perth Cup winner Star Exhibit. pic.twitter.com/kJKwN0A4pG

— Aushorse December 22, 2018